The 36 girls and women to watch in this weekend’s NSWRL East conference grand finals

As the NSWRL East conferences prepare for their season-ending grand finals this weekend, NewsLocal looks at the 36 players to watch from the U14s right through to open women’s divisions.

RUGBY LEAGUE: As the women’s game continues to grow and offer pathways never before seen, the next generation of female talent is developing right across Sydney.

This weekend sees a number of grand finals take place across the wider Sydney metro region, with some of the brightest junior and senior players on show.

NewsLocal looks at the 36 players to watch across the NSWRL East girls and women’s grand finals this weekend.

U14 EAST GOLD

IREA LEATIGAGA (Milperra)

“A strong prop forward,” coach Fetutasi Ma-Chong said.

“She provides us with a lot of go forward and runs straight through the middle.”

SHARON LATAPU (Milperra)

“She’s always playing eyes-up footy,” Ma-Chong said.

“Whatever is in front of her, she’ll take on the line and is capable of scoring runaway tries.”

BAILEY MA-CHONG (Milperra)

“When it’s on, she’ll pick the right time to run,” Ma-Chong said.

“Has a bit of pace as well. Plays five-eighth or fullback in union, but dummy half with us.”

CHARLOTTE HALL (Cronulla-Caringbah)

“Charlotte plays in the front row and is the captain of the team,” coach Shane Thomas said.

“She’s the hardest, fittest and most dedicated in terms of training and playing. It’s almost at a professional level. She has a great attitude towards the game.”

TIA JOHNSTON (Cronulla-Caringbah)

“Plays in the centres and doesn’t know how good she is,” Thomas said.

“Very quick and has natural ability. An unbelievable defender and her confidence has grown from the start of the year.”

EYERUS HILLMAN (Cronulla-Caringbah)

“A centre who is a freak. Her skills and goalkicking is unbelievable,” Thomas said.

“She’s very talented. Her and Tia play for Endeavour High as well.”

U14 EAST SILVER

CHARLOTTE TEPLICANEC (Taren Point)

“Is a fullback and a very good runner of the ball,” coach Brian Teplicanec said.

“Can spot a gap, is very quick and can take advantage of that. A good cover defender.”

EMILY TEPLICANEC (Taren Point)

“One of our forwards,” Teplicanec said.

“Is very strong in defence and works hard in both attack and defence.”

MAKAYLA VAKATUA (Taren Point)

“A forward or fullback as well,” Teplicanec said.

“She’s dynamic in her movement and can also create an opportunity out of nothing. Strong in defence.”

CHLOE SHEPHARD (Como-Jannali)

“Playing her first year of tackle footy, she is strong, fast and evasive,” coach Belinda Thomson said.

“Her defence at the back is relentless and she injects herself into the game in attack scoring plenty of good tries.”

NOA COUPLAND (Como-Jannali)

“In her first year of tackle footy, she is strong, breaks tackles and is hard to put down,” Thomson said.

“She will be one to watch in the future as is only 13 years of age.”

TAHLI WEIGAND (Como-Jannali)

“The best ball playing girl in the division with amazing vision and ability to find the holes,” Thomson said.

“Has a strong passing game and is a good goal and field kicker too.”

U16 EAST GOLD

KIANI DUCKETT (La Perouse)

“She’s an all-round footballer,” coach Darren McLean said.

“Great in attack and defence, and is a great team captain that leads by example at halfback.”

JACINTA LAVERANCE (La Perouse)

“A front rower who tackles hard and runs hard,” McLean said.

“Is our co-captain with Kiani. Trains hard all the time and takes that onto the field.”

LILLIE MCLEAN (La Perouse)

“Small in stature but big in heart,” McLean said.

“Shows great speed out of dummy half.”

U16 EAST SILVER

ANGEL SCHAAFHAUSEN-MINO (Milperra)

“Always leading by example, usually making the most tackles and runs in every game,” coach John Abouhaidar said.

“A very aggressive defender and powerful runner of the ball.”

OFA HE-MOONI HEITONGA (Milperra)

“First year playing rugby league and made the Bulldogs rep team,” Abouhaidar said.

“Has a great never say die attitude and always giving 100 per cent in defence and attack.”

JESSAMINE ANGEL ALOAII (Milperra)

“Also first year playing football and made rep teams,” Abouhaidar said.

“Is an excellent student always wanting to learn and better her game, blistering speed and a real natural athlete.”

LILE FIFITA (Greenacre)

“Our captain who is able to settle the girls on the field,” trainer Lisa Pemberton said.

“She constantly breaks the line, scores a number of tries every game and sets high expectations for herself and the girls. In the Bulldogs system.”

RUTH WAQANIVAVALAGI (Greenacre)

“Plays rugby union as well as league,” Pemberton said.

“Ruth plays on the edge, she’s a strong runner who runs a great line. Also with the Bulldogs.

“Unbelievable defensively. She’s not scared of anything.”

VENIANA SOROVI (Greenacre)

“One of the younger girls in the team. Our halfback and kicker,” Pemberton said.

“Along with breaking the line and scoring tries, she’s a great girl to coach.

“Brings the girls together and has a great sense of team spirit and camaraderie. Only reason she’s not with the Bulldogs is her age.”

U18 EAST

JOY LEVI (Cronulla-Caringbah)

“Playing in the centres and she’s a gun,” coach Mark Sheridan said.

“Had a cracking year and has scored a few tries. A big, strong runner of the ball and a great defender.”

ANGIE TUCKER (Cronulla-Caringbah)

“Our halfback who has also had a good year,” Sheridan said.

“An organiser who sets up tries and gets the forwards going. A great player.”

LAILAH SHERIDAN (Cronulla-Caringbah)

“Our five-eighth who takes the line on when she has to,” Sheridan said.

“Another good ball runner who supports and defends well.”

OPEN EAST GOLD

BRIANNA YOUNG (Asquith)

“A prop/second rower who is just 19 years old,” coach Sa Papiole said.

“She’s just a hard worker. A workhorse in the middle of the field who goes all day.”

KETURAH MATOE (Asquith)

“Our halfback who is a quality young player and only 17 years old,” Papiole said.

“A classy player with good vision and a good kicking game. A very talented footballer.”

GEORGIA RAVICS (Asquith)

“She plays centre for us and has the strike power on an edge,” Papiole said.

“A powerful runner for us and she’s scored numerous long-distance tries this year.”

Yilara Widders (left). Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

YILARA WIDDERS (La Perouse)

“Plays in the second row and is very powerful ball runner that is hard to stop close to the line,” coach Akia Kelly said.

“The leading tryscorer in the division.”

NIKIAH CAMPBELL (La Perouse)

“A centre that is fairly new to rugby league,” Kelly said.
“Has fantastic footwork with great speed and power. All rounder with agility, speed and defensive. Great ball playing skills.”

TYMEKQWA DUCKETT (La Perouse)

“A prop who returned back to rugby league with some time off due to having a baby who is now six months old,” Kelly said.

“One of the hardest hitting forwards in the game. Carries the ball with great strength and has a lethal offload that can cause some great damage.”

OPEN EAST SILVER

ANNA DENY (Forestville)

“Anna has had a breakout year,” coach Will Baines said.

“Only just turned 19. Wanted to get into footy but wasn’t allowed when she was younger. Slender but plays hard in the second row.”

ASHLEE MAAKA (Forestville)

“A halfback who came back to the club this year,” Baines said.

“Played with us the last time the Ferrets won a grand final. Provides experience in the halves and is the glue between the forwards and backs. Steers the ship around.”

GEORGIE FRYER (Forestville)

“Her second year in football and has turned into a utility,” Baines said.

“Can play in the forwards or backs. Has really transformed her game. The type of player you let loose when you need a bit of toughness.”

Amira Hamid of the Penshurst Kookaburras. Picture: Contributed

AMIRA HAMID (Penshurst)

“Amira plays halfback and is an integral part of the team and she controls a lot of the plays and leads the team around the field,” manager Renee Hush said.

“She is a tough player and leads by example. She is our top try scorer and won player of the match twice during the season.”

PHOEBE TE PAIHO-MURRAY (Penshurst)

“Phoebe plays prop and is part of our leadership team,” Hush said.

“Phoebe is a quiet achiever and is one of the toughest players you will see.

“She is strong and it takes 3-4 defenders to tackle her. She is a workhorse on the field and often tops the tackle count and metres gained.

“Phoebe is an original Penshurst player who played in the inaugural team in 2021. She was also selected in the Tarsha Gale training squad for last year.”

DANIELLE HIJAZI (Penshurst)

“Danielle plays winger and is part of our leadership team,” Hush said.

“Danielle is all heart. She is a relatively new player to the game but she gives 1000% every game. She will tackle everyone and runs all day.

“She is dedicated to learning about the game and is an integral part of the team on and off the field. She turns up to every training and every team event and is always happy to organise and assist.”